When I was a little kid, I had some bright ideas. One that particularly springs to mind was the idea that I could fly if I flapped my arms really, really quickly. I believed that other people simply hadn’t flapped fast enough.

One sunny afternoon, Mum was distracted clipping the grass edges and my older sister was playing on the front lawn. I shimmied my way up to the top of the plinth at the end of the front verandah. I thought, boy are they going to be surprised. I took a deep breath, started flapping and launched myself into the air.

Gravity betrayed me.

Mum rushed to comfort me in my pain and disbelief. ‘If you want to fly, you’ll need to be in an aircraft. Perhaps you could learn when you grow up?’

Twenty years later, I had my first flying lesson. Hooked doesn’t begin to describe my obsession with flying and aircraft. Studying for the exams and practicing all the manoeuvres I’d need to get my private pilot’s licence was an absolute joy. The first solo came as a surprise. The flying instructor said, ‘Stop at the end of the runway, I’m getting out. You’re ready to go on your own.’ I can still feel the excitement and trepidation as the aircraft took to the air much more quickly without the instructor on board. Knuckles white and heart racing, I completed the circuit, did a butterfly kiss landing and taxied back to the hangar almost hyperventilating with glee.

More flying hours later, I was ready to take the flight test for a restricted private pilot’s licence. I passed, and now I could take passengers in the local area. My mother’s country pub was only minutes from the airfield and her customers had taken great interest in my flying pursuits. One day, Mum agreed to come for a ride with me. I’m not sure how she was feeling, but she did say something about hoping that this flight would have a better outcome than my first attempt at the age of three.

Naturally, she wanted to fly over the pub. As we circled, we noticed a bunch of people below in the beer garden, waving crazily. It was her customers enjoying my aeronautical endeavours.

Mum was frowning. She said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me the roof needed painting?’